A pub landlord is recovering after being smashed in the face with a brick by a player from a visiting darts team.

Tim Howard, of the Lampet Arms, Tadmarton, near Banbury, suffered severe bruising to his left eye and needed stitches.

Minutes earlier, another player had ripped a huge stone from the pub wall and hurled it through the dining room window.

"At the end of the evening they were trying to pull a beer pump off the bar so I told them not to be silly and they left the pub very calmly after shaking hands with me," said Mr Howard.

"But soon after, one of the players came in looking for his coat. I followed him outside and saw a man raise the boulder above his head and throw it through the window. "I tried to tell him to stop but three more men came out of the darkness and one of them struck me with a house brick. Because he hit me so hard I went flying back. Then he ran at me and gave me a kicking. Some regulars heard the noise and rushed out to chase them off."

Mr Howard was treated in hospital for a fractured cheek bone and eye injuries.

Police are investigating. The name of the darts team has not been revealed.

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